'It was like the world was shutting down': Gabriella Taylor talks for the first time about her Wimbledon 'poisoning' ordeal

The British tennis player allegedly poisoned at last month’s Wimbledon championships has described the incident as “evil” and has has said she hopes the police find enough evidence to catch the person responsible.

Speaking for the first time since police launched an investigation into the incident, Gabriella Taylor said the initially unexplained illness that forced her to retire from a quarter-final match in the junior tournament had “opened her eyes” to alleged practices in the sport.

Gabriella suffered multiple organ failure during four days in intensive care after retiring from the girls’ competition.

It’s scary that something like this can happen, but it’s very possibleGabriella Taylor

Police have launched a criminal investigation after doctors identified a rare strain of leptospirosis, caused by a bacterium that can be transmitted through rat urine, as the cause of her infection.

Health experts last night said it was “highly unlikely” that the player had contracted the illness through a deliberate poisoning. But Miss Taylor told The Telegraph: “Anything is possible.”

Gabriella Taylor in Marbella with her mother MilenaCredit:
Solarpix

The teenager said on Thursday night that the near-death experience had taught her “a lesson”, and that she would be far more vigilant over her personal possessions in future tournaments.

“I’m just very thankful I’ve managed to make it through,” she said. “These [junior] grand slams are just as important as the senior grand slams and things like this are just as evil.”

I was very light-headed and dizzy and my arms had this huge fatigue. It was like I’d never played tennis beforeGabriella Taylor

Miss Taylor’s parents reported the incident to police last week, after doctors told them that their daughter had contracted a rare strain of leptospirosis, not often seen in the UK.

Scotland Yard confirmed it was investigating allegations of “poisoning with intent to endanger life”.

Miss Taylor said: “Obviously it was shocking news, but we were kind of prepared for it. It’s scary that something like this can happen, but it’s very possible. I’m going to be a lot more aware of what’s going on around me. People should keep an eye on their personal belongings all the time.”

Gabriella Taylor in hospital

This year’s tournament was Gabriella’s last chance to compete for the junior title and should have marked the culmination of a miraculous nine months, in which she rose from being an unranked teenager to coming within the top 400 female players in the world.

Despite being in the form of her life and progressing decisively through the early rounds, by the time she began warming up for her quarter-final against Kayla Day, she knew something was very wrong.

“I couldn’t see the ball properly,” she recalled. “I was very light-headed and dizzy and my arms had this huge fatigue. It was like I’d never played tennis before.”

Gabriella Taylor in Southampton General Hospital

It was the second time in 24 hours the British player had been forced to walk out on court feeling unwell. The previous day Gabriella had been woken early by severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which she put down to a stomach bug at the time.

Despite her condition, she made short work of third-round opponent, winning in straight sets.

“I managed to fight through my stomach pain that day and played some really good tennis,” she said.

“I was hoping I would feel better the next day but when I woke up in the morning I just couldn’t believe that I felt even worse. I’m normally pretty healthy and I’ve never been struck down like that before.”

Gabriella Taylor is now on the road to recoveryCredit:
Solarpix

Gabriella somehow got herself on court for the quarter-final and managed to stay within two games of her opponent when losing the first set.

“I was so gutted. When I came off, I burst into tears. I couldn’t believe what was happening to me. I had been very confident in my game and Junior Wimbledon was very, very important to me to try and win the title.”

The next day, barely able to walk, the teenager was rushed to hospital.

“That was the point when I thought, oh my god, this is something really serious,” she said. “Then it was like the world was shutting down.”

It took doctors repeated blood tests and several weeks to narrow down the cause of the infection that had prompted the fit and healthy athlete to deteriorate so quickly.

The identity of the bacterial strain, and its extreme rarity in accidental food poisoning, has left Gabriella, along with her parents Milena and Paul, suspecting foul play.

“For several weeks it was very confusing, but in a way when we found out the cause it made sense,” said the player.

Gabriella Taylor is now at the centre of a police probe after fears she was poisoned at WimbledonCredit:
Solarpix

Her parents have been spoken to by the police and revealed that detectives have taken drinks bottles used by their daughter for forensic testing.

Her parents are not critical of security at the All England Club, however the club has been forced to climb down after it initially insisted that Gabriella had not used its catering facilities during the tournament.

On Thursday, a spokesman conceded that the player had regularly eaten meals there during the tournament.

Watch | The 2015 Wimbledon tennis championships by numbers

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Gabriella is slowly getting back on her feet this week, and beginning to undertake restricted practice at her main training base in Marbella.

But the process is slow as she waits for the skin on her feet to harden, after “great chunks” of flesh peeled off during her time in hospital.

“When I’m fit enough I can’t wait to get out there properly on court again,” she said. “This has definitely made me a lot more mature.”